Originally Posted by
arnel
I am looking at a long weekend stay in the San Diego area. Ideally I would use my cat 1-4 voucher, but I'm open to paying to stay at a cat 5 hotel too. I am there to visit a relative living in the Bay Ho area - which of the Marriotts in the area would you recommend?
Right now considering:
Marriott La Jolla (cat 5)
Sheraton La Jolla (cat 5)
Residence Inn Del Mar (cat 4)
Four Points by Sheraton San Diego/SeaWorld (cat 4)
Are there others I should look at? I imagine I'd be renting a car so parking charges would be a factor too.
I am a long term La Jolla resident familiar with most of the legacy SPG properties.
If you are looking to experience a San Diego feeling you may be disappointed with both of the “La Jolla” hotels. Both are right near the I-5 Freeway and Westfield Mall in an area more properly referred to as University City. I would consider both business hotels more than vacation locations. Just be aware that they are north of the area locals consider La Jollla, right by the freeway in a busy commercial area (also near UCSD and Scripps Hospital)
The Residence Inn of La Jolla (Cat 5) though in the same general area is actually a little closer to the ocean. It would be a pretty easy drive to BayHo.
If water views are important the Marquis looks interesting but it is a Cat 6 (I have never stayed there). The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina was decent many years ago but my understanding is it has gone downhill. It would be a convenient drive though and a lot of rooms have water views.
I love the Del Mar area but have not tried that RI. The drive to/from Del Mar could easily entail bad traffic.
I have not visited the Four Points Seaworld but I have heard from disappointed visitors that it is in an industrial area and only worth staying at if you are actually visiting Seaworld. It’s a shame because that would be very convenient to Bayho and it is a newer hotel.